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Exchange-traded funds offer a convenient way to invest in sectors or niches that interest you. If you'd like to add some global industrial stocks to your portfolio, the iShares S&P Global Industrials ETF (NYSEMKT: EXI) could save you a lot of trouble. Instead of trying to figure out which companies will perform best, you can use this ETF to invest in lots of them simultaneously.

The basics ETFs often sport lower expense ratios than their mutual fund cousins. The iShares ETF's expense ratio -- its annual fee -- is a relatively low 0.48%, and it recently yielded about 2.2%. The fund is fairly small, too, so if you're thinking of buying, beware of possibly large spreads between its bid and ask prices. Consider using a limit order if you want to buy in.

This ETF has performed reasonably, beating the world market over the past three years and inching ahead of it over the past five. As with most investments, of course, we can't expect outstanding performances in every quarter or year. Investors with conviction need to wait for their holdings to deliver.

With a low turnover rate of 6%, this fund isn't frantically and frequently rejiggering its holdings, as many funds do.

More than a handful of global industrial companies had strong performances over the past year. 3M (NYSE: MMM) gained 21%. It's long been a dividend stalwart, paying shareholders for many decades, through good times and bad. It recently yielded 2.5%. The company, known for its innovation and diversification, has been growing at a slow and steady pace, and has been investing heavily in research and development.

Honeywell (NYSE: HON) also advanced 21%, performing well and expecting that to continue, though Boeing may deliver some challenges due to quality issues with its new Dreamliner plane and labor issues. Fortunately, this is a rather diversified company, with many other promising lines of business, such as even serving the smartphone market, wireless technology, and more. It also recently inked a $2.8 billion "lifetime" contract to supply Embraer E-Jets.

Eaton (NYSE: ETN) rose by 20%. The power management company has been shifting its focus from international projects to more U.S.-based ones. Management recently projected revenue growth of 42% in 2013 and that operating earnings will set a record. Eaton is also growing via acquisition, recently gobbling up Cooper Industries for more than $11 billion, which diversifies its offerings further. Analyst Stephen Simpson likes the Cooper buy, noting that it reduces Eaton's cyclicality. Eaton has also started seeing its inventories of heavy equipment start to shrink, which is promising. It yields about 2.5%.

United Parcel Service (NYSE: UPS) , meanwhile, gained 12%. It recently upped its dividend by almost 9% and recently yielded 2.9%. On top of that, UPS is planning a massive share repurchase of about $4 billion this year. The company stands to gain from the U.S. Postal Service's struggles (though some are pointing out that the situation is not as it appears there). Even without that, though, online retailers are enjoying booming business, which translates into lots of deliveries for UPS and others.

The big picture Demand for industrial goods and services isn't going away anytime soon. A well-chosen ETF can grant you instant diversification across any industry or group of companies -- and make investing in and profiting from it that much easier.

With over 50,000 products, 3M plays a role in making everything from computers to power cables. A long history of invention and innovation has driven the company to its wide reach, but a focus on operational efficiency may be hurting the creative culture that once created Scotch Tape and the Post-It Note. A new leader has taken over and vows to return innovation to the forefront. Does this mean the stock will become more than a dividend, returning to its former glory as a growth stock once again? Find out whether 3M has what it takes to pull it off in The Motley Fool's comprehensive new research report on the company. As an added bonus, you'll receive a full year of key updates and guidance as news develops, so don't miss out -- simply click here now to claim your copy today.

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Selena Maranjian has been writing for the Fool since 1996 and covers basic investing and personal finance topics. She also prepares the Fool's syndicated newspaper column and has written or co-written a number of Fool books. For more financial and non-financial fare (as well as silly things), follow her on Twitter... Follow @SelenaMaranjian